William Calhoun McDonald (July 25, 1858 – April 11, 1918) was an American politician, and the first governor of the State of

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

Biography

McDonald was born in

Jordanville, New York Jordanville is a hamlet in the town of Warren, Herkimer County, New York, United States. Jordanville is in the northwestern part of Warren, at the intersection of New York State Route 167 and County Route 155. The community was settled by ...

and was raised in New York. He attended

Cazenovia Seminary Cazenovia College is a private college in Cazenovia, New York. Founded as the Genesee Seminary in 1824 and sponsored by the Methodist Church, in 1894 the college adopted the name of Cazenovia Seminary. It was reorganized in 1942 after church spon ...

. In New York, he studied law and taught primary school.

Career

In 1878, McDonald moved to

Fort Scott, Kansas Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 7,552. It is named for Gen. Winfield Scott. The city is located south of Kansas City on the Marmat ...

where he served as an apprentice at the law offices of Joseph S. Lorrence. He was admitted to the bar in 1880. That same year, McDonald moved to White Oaks, Lincoln County,

New Mexico Territory The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of '' Nuevo México'' becomin ...

. Staking out mining claims and working as a mineral surveyor, he managed and later purchased the Carrizozo Cattle Ranch Company. He became a United States deputy mineral surveyor for New Mexico in 1881, and became active in Democratic politics. McDonald was Lincoln County Assessor from 1885 to 1887. In 1891, he was a member of the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives. He married Francis J. McCourt on August 31, 1891. The couple had five children. He chaired the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners from 1895 to 1897. A member of the New Mexico Cattle Sanitary Board from 1905 to 1911, he also chaired the 1910 Democratic Territorial Central Committee. Securing the Democratic nomination, McDonald was elected the first Governor of the state of

on November 7, 1911. During his tenure, the state's government was structured while raids by

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

bandits were dealt with. After his governorship, McDonald was appointed and served as New Mexico Fuel Administrator, an office he held until his death.

Death

McDonald died on April 11, 1918 and is interred at Cedarvale Cemetery in White Oaks.

References

External links

Bio at Rootsweb
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald, William C. 1858 births 1918 deaths People from Herkimer County, New York People from Fort Scott, Kansas Kansas lawyers New Mexico lawyers Members of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature Democratic Party governors of New Mexico 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers